NO REFUGE was one of the pricey purchases by trainer Howard Johnson and owners Graham and Andrea Wylie, having cost 180,000gns from Sir Mark Prescott's Newmarket yard, but has had his problems since.

Saturday showed he had put these behind him as he landed the novice hurdle at Aintree under a fine Graham Lee ride.

Johnson said: "We had a job schooling him early doors and one day Graham Lee came down and he wouldn't go at all. All credit must go to Lisa Brughan, who used to be a show jumper. She got him jumping over poles."

The Crook trainer added that No Refuge had had a protein problem as well, but would be a nice little horse and would improve for his win.

Saturday's card included a fun contest between Irish and British jockeys and Lee gave one to the home side, but Keith Mercer, Ferdy Murphy's claimer, was counted as Irish, although born near Liverpool, and won for the overseas team on Lazy But Lively for Cumbrian trainer Roger Fisher.

Lee was a creditable second on Kinburn for Johnson and owner W M G Black next day in the novice handicap hurdle. He also came second for Ferdy Murphy on Joe's Edge in the novice chase later, one to watch for on a return to two and a half miles or thereabouts.

The big one tomorrow is the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, and Johnson-Lee-the Wylies have a strong hand with Inglis Drever, while team-mate Teme Valley is also listed.

Patrick Haslam has a 100pc record at Huntingdon in the past five years thanks to Yankeedoodledandy, who landed the juvenile hurdle under Barry Keniry on Saturday to make it two wins from two runners there for the Middleham trainer.

Tim FitzGerald seldom sends one to Fakenham, but Vincentio's second visit to the course gave the Malton man his first winner there from three runners. Tony Ross had the ride and the team was able to keep Vincentio without a bid after this selling handicap hurdle.

Ferdy Murphy this week said Granit D'Estruval is headed for the Williamhill.co.uk Marathon Handicap Chase at Sandown next Saturday, December 4. The West Witton team took two at Sedgefield on Tuesday, Brian Harding winning on Hot Weld and Lee on Garde Bien.

Amateur Tom Greenall took another for Mick Easterby when Dance Party won the opener. Tim Easterby sent out County Classic, bred by father Peter and owned by Lottery winner Terry Benson, to win the maiden hurdle under Russ Garritty.

Longest price winner from nearby was barrister Eric Elliott's Place Above at 12-1. The Rushyford permit holder gave credit to the Animal Health Trust for putting his horse right.

Brian Harding landed another for Murphy on Wednesday at Wetherby, when Tribal Venture overcame a gap of 587 days to score. Murphy said that he had made the mistake of running Tribal Venture on fast ground, after a good run at the Cheltenham Festival, when he returned there in the April. When he started cantering last autumn, he was found to have leg problems and had to have the year off.

"He's a decent prospect," said Murphy, "and may go for the SunAlliance if the ground were right. He loves it soft."

Garritty partnered Aleron to land the novices hurdle at his second attempt for trainer John Quinn, although the win was perhaps lucky as George Moore's Beamish Prince fell at the second last when leading. Graham Lee added another , wining on Oneway for Oxfordshire trainer Mark Rimmell.

Welcome back, Keith Dalgleish! The tall young Scottish horseman who retired as a Flat jockey, formerly for Mark Johnston, because of the fight to keep his weight down has returned after a good break to become a jump jockey.

He had his first ride under the new code on Wednesday for Karl Burke in the Lingfield bumper (NH flat race). It was not a fairytale return, as Hopeful Mission could only finish sixth, but the jockey was pleased to find the old buzz was back and looked forward to hurdles, having been booked by Kate Walton to ride at Doncaster on Sunday.

THE WEEK'S WINNERS

Sat. - Aintree: No Refuge (trained by H Johnson, at Crook; owned by A & G Wylie), ridden by G Lee.

Huntingdon: Yankeedoodledandy (P Haslam, Middleham; K Tyre & Mrs C Barclay), F Keniry.

Lingfield AW: Spence Appeal (K Ryan, Hambleton; R Peel), N Callan.

Wolverhampton AW ev: Paparaazi (R Fahey; Hb (homebred by owner or connection) Mr & Mrs A R Nemazee), P Hanagan; If By Chance (R Craggs, Sedgfield; trainer), R Winston.

Sun. - Fakenham: Vicentio (T FitzGerald, Norton; Shaw Thing Partnership), A Ross.

Mon. - Lingfield AW: Eddies Jewel (J Wainwright, Kennythorpe; Denison Arms), R Winston.

Southwell AW: Colemanstown (B Ellison, Norton; G Redpath), Miss L Ellison (claiming 3lb); Grandman Lily (D Carroll, Warthill; D Fravigar, A Mann, D Marshall), D Tudhope (5); Boris The Spider (M Hammond, Middleham; The Adbrokes Partnership), P Hanagan.

Tue. - Sedgefield: Dance Party (M Easterby, Sheriff Hutton; The Woodford Group Ltd), Mr T Greenall (5); County Classic (T Easterby, Great Habton; T J Benson), R Garritty; Hot Weld (F Murphy, West Witton; S Hubbard Rodwell), B Harding; Place Above (E Elliott, Rushyford; permit holder), F King (3); Garde Bien (F Murphy; Mrs B Scholey), G Lee.

Southwell AW: Hows That (K Burke, Wensley; D Wigglesworth & J Harthen), N Callan; Constable Burton (A Duffield, Constable Burton; Turf 2000 Ltd), D Allan; Penwell Hill (D Barron, Maunby; Mrs L Jones), J Fanning; Roman Empire (K Ryan; Yorkshire Racing Syndicates), N Callan.

Wed. - Wetherby: Tribal Venture (F Murphy; Hill, Trembath, Bryan & Outhan), B Harding; Aleron (J Quinn, Settrington; G Liles), R Garrity